Suspension clamp



Q mission:lines that the n 'mber of towers po- 7 Patented Sept. 23, 1930 I '7 c w nnrnivr WARREN woonnnrr,

an; or swAR'rHMoR-E;

Ann RALPRL. J NN R, or

- l GERMANTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA r sUsPEnsroN oLAMr,

" Application filed March 27,192

This invention relates towan' improved type of suspension clamppreferably employed for supporting the 7 el I gtransmissionline; The invention furtherrelates to a novelconstruction of such a clamp that will satisfactorily function to prevent creepage of the conductor. while beingysupported in its normalpos'ition and that will permit a temporaryrelease of theconductor 7 so that it may slide somewhat through the clamp when thereexistsan abnormal condition ofsupporting.* 5 I i t i's well'knownj that theusual practice in theconstruction of transmission lines is to suspend the wires or conductors from a post or tower by meansof a supporting clamp con- 7 nected to one or more insulators which in turn are connected-to a crossfarm mounted on the tower. 1-H, In designing a transmission line i't'has been found that the bases for figuring therequired strengths of the to fer an'd'of the insulators are the vertical ortransverse load, which is the Weight of the conductor with the ice that may collect thereon, and a transverse load due towindagainst the conductor and the "ice; and alongitudinal load, which is the pullin the conductor due to its weight and are in suspension and-is onlytransmitted to the tower in case ofa broken conductor; It commonlyassumed-in tower design that one thi-rd or moreotf the conductors be brolte'n. l/Vhen'th'e conductors are of relatively small fcross-sections the transverse load" is andfth'e design of the towers is not generally control-ledib y the assumed probable longitudinal load. In mission lines the conductors are of largersize "audit has been found that the stringing tension together Withthe ice and wind loads =-thereon-which, as heretofore stated constitute the total probable horizontal load, are

the-controlling factors;

may be stated that in nearly all transectricalconductors of i a strength.

. gency of breakage,

The improved :v des a suitable form of support for the constringing tensiontogether with a high veloc-' of the 8090% substantiallyequal 'tofthe longitudinal load 'mal load on a tower by reason of thebreaking the larger capacity trans- Serial no. 87,852.

sitioned along a substantially straight line constitute about 80-90% of the totalnumber oftowers of the line. The endand corner towers are necessarily designed for full 55 nder the present practice it has also been foundfrom experience that the towers forming the 80-90% must be designed to Withstand the loads imposed by theshock resulting fromthe breaking of anyone ora number of the conductors. The type of clamps now in use do not providefor an automatic release of the conductor when abnormal conditions obtain and consequently when a conductor breaks there willbe a severe shockon the tower and thus the requirement of towersof great strength capacity although this great strength is not'needed except in the emerbut it must, nevertheless,

be present.

clamp herein disclosed productors so that these conductors are held firmly under normal conditions and'so that F when excessive abnormal conditions obtain there will be a releasing of the conductor so that it ma slide somewhat through the clamp andthere y prevent breakage of the tower.

WVith this improved type of clamp it has 0 been found from experience that the design oi. the towers may be'modified so that there is a very material saving inithe size and strength of the towers thereby obviou'sly creatingla very substantial saving in it steel in the large' number of the towers required. This material savingis practically all dependent on the fact that a satisfactory type of conductor clamp hasheenprovided for eliminating the possibility of the abnorof a conductor. 7 7

It may be stated that various types of clamps have been designed. to accomplish the function herein required, but it has been found under actual tests ofsuch clamps that they have failed due probably to the fact that vthere 15 no actual slipping of the conductor 'in'respect to the clamp although the clamps were designed to accomplish that purpose.

ion The mam ob ect or this invention is, therev tower so that a wire or to provide an iinpro clamps or y the conductor fores to' provide an improved type'of conductorsupporting means which will permit thebuilding of transmission lines at a very material saving while at the same time pro v v mal conditions OfSLLSPGllSlOIl of the conducwill automatically rer vi ding a satisfactory factor of safety A more detailed ved suspension clampior the conductors of transmission line,.which clamp provides satisfactory firm holding'of the c-on'duct'or under normalconditions and provides for suitable releasing of the conduc-- tor longitudinally under abnormal conditions of suspension and thereby prevent the transmission of abnormal loads to the tower. It .is' a further object of this invention to provide an improved type of electrical condu ctor suspension clam pgwhich automatically creepage, thereof I under 7 when the conductorinoves the clamp, a predeterminedamount from its normal position.

7 Another object of this invention istolprovideia-n improved cable or conductorsupport-- iiig clamp which; normallyclamps or, binds but which aft-er a predetermined movement fromwitsr normal position will quickly and entirely release the clamp to permit the conductor to slide through the clamp and will after." an initial release of the conductor act to gradually grip tl'ieconductor and-bring itto rest before too much sag hassbeen formedin-the conductorline,

' It is a further object of the invention to. provide a novel type of construction'ofa suspension clamp which eliminates abnormal loads being transmitted to the tower; Further objects and'advantages of this-invention will be appreciated when reading the detailed description set forth below.

The preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. l is a general view of the articles re- 'quired for suspending a conductor of a trans-i mission-line; I p i i Fig. Q'is an elevational V ew, partly in 'sectiomof the improvedtype of clamp elllf and the line 33of Fig; a i

Referring no'wto these drawings thcre is illustrated in F 1 arm 2 which extends outwardly from the conductor 3 of the transmission line suspended by the cross arm maybe supported'at some distance from the tower to prevent electrical leakage. It is'usual to provide one or more insulators A between the cross-arm 2 and a suitable suspension clamp: 5 As shown in this draw 7 ingthere is provided one insulatorbut-more The clamp may'be employed if desired."

torily provides for object ofthe invention is binds the conductor to prevent a normal condit ons i and to automatically release the clamping the bio tl t ites plate S aspriHg; l fac 10; formed on the bottom portion ofthe creasing gripping after releasing:

ates 1 w th the. body a portion of tower 1 ot' a transmission line: and asuitablecrosa' doctor has developed a stance,

discloseed for accomplishing seen i that. member 57- is. pivoted the purposes of this invention may. be of any desired construction so long as it satisfac- I the clampingor binding of the conductor within the clamp wh le nor-' after sliding has started sitionandthat will create a gradual gripping on the conductor until'the sliding" The preferred construction: which has been found satisfactorily iiioperatio s is illustrated in FigshQ ndg and is composed of v a. body 6, a. member 6 and which is fastened tothehin 'sulator 4 any suitable manner The preferred form of means for clapiping or binding: the condi ctor withi the; body 6 consti-i :97, and a'cam sure member 7 In this preferred type of. clamp it will be noted that the conductor; 1?; is held within the body 6 or the clamp. It will be understood that if desired the clamp may have any desired for'n of niea'nsfor pernia iiently engagingthe conductor and, which means in turn would be received within the body 6 ,or associated therewith in anyde sired inanner so that a binding would be provided to prevent the conductor; from sliding relatively to the-attaching member Z undcr normal. conditions i of 3 suspension,

and that would functionit o be released un- V 'der abnormalcondit ons of suspens on, and

that also functions to give a. gradually in? which is constructed to. receive and hold the conductor, there is provided a satisfactory means for binding the conductor within the In the suspension clamp illustrated body and inathis instance. the plate 8 coopen,

I V (ito; pinch or bind the I conductor so that thereby vary the binding effect on the conductorwithin thebody 6; 1 1; lVhen alongitudinal load on the 'COIl-z the clamp 5 is drawn to th ig t, or instantially in line with the axis of, the insulator. Thisiwillbe appreciated as it -is tothe. clamp to such a'point that 7 I has stoppedthereby pre- 7 ventin too much sa in the conductor line.

which is carried by 7 no A v willnotniiove throughf the body until the pinching or binding is 7 is pref while at the same time the cam surthe aXismember? will remain sub I cam surface the spring 9 is released someaxis of theinsula'tor and is being moved, WllllQ re-1 its position in respect to spring9 and due to th construction of this what so that it approaches the position shown in dotted lines. In accomplishing this re- 7 sult the weight of the conductor alwaystends to pull the body 6 aWa'y-from'the attaching .member 7 and, therefore, when the body 6' is moved out of its normal vertical suspended position there is this weight force "which will maintain the insulator and the attaching member '7 e in A substantially a straight line which line forms an angle with the longitudinal axis of the body 6. It is desiredito so constructor form this cam surface that the clamp may be moved through I pan angle of substantially from itsnorm'al vertical position before the binding pressure 'on the conductor 3 is released to' .7 a sufli'cient extent to permit the conductor .to' slide relatively through'the body 6 or relative-to the attaching member 7 It may be noted after a relative movement of the conductor through the body'of the clamp that the clamp will tend to return to its normal position due to the Weight oftheconductor and will thereby-causethe cam surface 10 'toforcibly engage the spring 9 to ingpoints. Y o It willbe-observed thatthe movement of of its compress the same and thereby'exert a binding pressure on the plate 8; This action, preciated as giving a snubbing' effect to the conductor through the of course, will be 1 apmovement of the tconductorthrough the clamp. It will, therefore,beyseen that it is possible notto have'a very 'material longitudinal movement [of the conductor through the clamp at any one releasing, but

any," movement of the conductor under the 5; conditions of abnormal suspension will re-- lieve the strain so that th'etovverand the insulators 1, are not strained totheir'breakthe clamp may be either to the right or left vertical suspended position and that the same releasing and snubbing effect Wlll obtain irrespective of whichside of its -nor-,

malposition it is moved; It will, therefore,

be seen that there is a freedomof movement of before the releasing of the binding effect permits a relative movement of the con- 'ductor to the clamp.- l/Vhile this total angle of (60 of movement has been found to be ad visable and satisfactory, it is to be understoodthat various other requirements may be imadeby satisfactorily designing the cam surface, the spring 9 and the construction and desi n of plate 8, or anyone of them, i

Tile preferred forinofclamp vherein dis? clamp it will be seen and satisfactory operation closed provides for aunit member construe clamp, and that after the body 6 has been moved to definite and predetermined distance fromits normal position. there should be a release of the conductor so that it may slide through the body 6 and thereby preventthe excessive strains on the towerand insulators; In addition, the clamp automatically operates to prevent too much sag in the conductor line on one side of the clamp, for after there has been some slipping of the conductor through the clamp theweight of the conductor'tends-to bring the clamp and the insulators back into the normal vertical positions and in doing so the cam 10 acts to compress the spring 9 and therebycreates a gripping or snubbing action on the conductor. This gripping becomes effective gradually in ac cordance with the amount of the anglebetween the line of the insulators from their normal vertical positions. lVith this type of that when the release, to permit sliding,-has taken place that the towers may be designed so that they will not separate elements and be be some'change inthe bind ing effect on the-conductor held within the to l be required to take the abnormal load due to the breaking ofa conductor.

If desirable the suspension clamp may be provided with a coating or cover within the body so that the conditions of support and slipping of the conductor may be easily obtained and for this purpose there is provided a suitable liner 14 which preferably is of aluminum or'any other suitable metal or material. Itis desired also to provide the underside of plate 15 preferably of aluminum'or any other suitable material.

' Another feature of construction of this improved clamp is to provide the plate 8 With projections 16 which may be received Within recess-es 17 formed in the body 6 so that the plate 8 will always be satisfactorily maintained within the clamp. Fox-the same 8 witha suitablecoating lit) reason the spring 9 is also provided with projections as indicated at 18 and which are shown as being received within recesses 17;

It wil be seen that the preferred construction of this novel clamp provides cooperating pieces in theforms of spring 9 and plate 8 between the cam surface 10 and the conductor 3. It has been desirable to provide these intermediate pieces so that practical of the clamp may be obtained; Itis understood,-however, that insome instances, if desired the cam surface of the spring Sland plate 8 does not add= ma-" terially to'tlie total expense,

ments are elimii-i'a-ted it. then becomes neces saryxto manufacture ,the manufacture of all of the elements on a "tion that a satisfactory large scale with relatively Wide manufacturing tolerances is permitted while at the same time the satisfactory operation ofthe device as so manufactured has penence.

been proven by ex I tvnll be seen fronithe'foregoing" descripmeansgor clamp nas been provided for the conductors of a transmission. line, andthat SllCllifClZllYlP satisfactorily prevents creepage :ing in normal positionis present as well as the releasingunder abnormal conditions.

be understood that while we have of the conductorswhile at the same time it provides a satisfactory means of releasinej the conductors to prevent heavyloading of the tower or structiiireunderabnormal conditions of a broken 'conductor.- For these reasonsit will be seen that the towers of the transmissionline may be designed so as not to require the enormous amount of e'Xt-rasteel.

While the description heretofore given has been directedgto' a particular example and useof the clamp, it is to beunderstood that the clampmay be employed for supporting various other wires,cables,-conduetors or the likerand'the function of satisfactorily hold a t will hereindescribed in detail a particular enibOdiment of'our invention for purposes of' full disclosure, and some detailed features which we are specifically claiming for a special advantage, many changesjand modificationsmay bemade in the particular constructioniand arrangement of parts without de-i partingfrom the broad scope of our 1nven-v tion which is outlined in the subjo'ined claims.

I claim:

r 1; In a suspension clamp for a conductor, the comb nation of a body for holding the conductor, a member for attaching said body to an insulator support, and meansincluding ft an-Q inherently-resilient element and cam meansacting through said element for binding said conductor immovable within. said 7 body during aswing on each side of itsnormal vertical position and for automatically 7 releasing said elementto release the conductor to permit its relative movement" tosaid body when said clamp has been swung through a predetermined angle either side of its normal vertical position.

2. In a clamp the combination of a or if these i eleboth the body. 6 and the; cam surface 10 with greater ,PIQCI'SIOII. Inthe preferred construction herein disclosed form of" suspension permit it to have relative movement to said,

' offsaidspring ed to attach said body to an insulator for receiving and supporting a conductor, a i.

supporting 5 portion,

gage'ment with said: conductonaspring; co operating with said plate and adapted toi'e ert pressure thereonto bind saida'conductorq Within saidbody, a member cooperating with: said body and attached to an insulator, for: supporting said; body and; conductor, andaj cam means engagingfsaid spring-and movable by said member whereby said' jca n 7 causes said SPIlRgtOBXQlt varying, pressures 7 onsaidplate. y

3. In a suspension clamp the combination of a body for receiving'antdholding a conductor, a member for attaching said body to: an insulator support, saidinember having cam'surface formed thereon, a: plate engage; ing said'conductor, aspring pesitioner gagenient-nrith; said plate and withsa lea- .11 surface, said plate and-saidsp'rin 'cooperau. ingv with said-body and i response to'saidlc'am surface to bindsaid conductor rithin said body or to releasesaid condu r body. 4. In a clamp for}afconductor, -the combi? nation of a-body for holding thecond aplate': positioned within -lsaidi b0 adapted to engagesaidconductor, a re means associated with said plate, mcans fon maintaining; said, plate and saidresilient means within the confines ofsaid body and;

permitting limited movements thereof within said body, a member for attaching: said 1 body to an insulator support,.jand a cam means responsive to movements of said meme.

her for forcing'saidiplate bymeans ofsaid resilientmeans to bind said; conductor with-i 1 insaid bod v under normal conditions of -suse pension and: to release sa-idbinding under ab? norn'ialconditions of suspension.

5; In a suspension clamp thecombination of a body for; receiving and holding acouductor, a plate positioned within said bodyand inenga-gement-withsaid conductor; proi je'ctions on said plate to be received. within recesses in said bodyifor' lin fling the longi tudinalgmovement' of said plate, a/spring m.ounted. on said plate, promotions on-s-aid spring and adapted to be received wi'thin'said recessesto limit the longitudinal movement a-vmember pivotally connected 7 to the upper portion of said body and adaptsupport, said member having a cam surface formed on its bottom edge for engagement with said spring, said cam surface formedto exertpressure when; in a vertical position to bindsaid conductor within saidbody and to" release the pressure when said member forms: an'angle'to its normal: ertical position to therebypernjiit said conductor to have rela: tive movement to said body, i 6. A transmission line device comprisinga a conductor-rewiring portion relativelymovably supportedthereby 7 said sijce to predetermined I ate vportion of said spring for flexing ative relation to portions for clamping a conductor relative to said receiving portion including a resilient element and common means for normally holding the element in stressedcondition and for, actuation by said supporting portion for releasing the resilientelement in and means disposed in oper response to predetermined relative movement spring to release the conductor.

- relatively movable bers, a spring 8. A transmission-line device comprising conductor-clamping memfor pressing-one of said members toward the other and means including a cam mounted on said other member for normally pressing the spring and responsive topredeterminedmovement of the conductor for releasing thespring to release the conductor in response to predetermined movement thereof. p

9. A conductonclamping device comprising a conductor-receiving channel member,

7 a member pivotally connected thereto and a a spring between said said receiving means and members to be normally held in stressed condition by said members in predetermined relative position thereof to clamp the conductor,

10. A conductor clamp, comprisingmeans to receive the conductor, and means for clamping the conductor relative thereto and responsive to predetermined movement of the conductor for releasing the same including a supporting element pivotally associated with an inherently-resilient element, said elements cooperating during and after release ofthe conductor to uniformly and, gradually release and apply the clampingforces to retard movement of the conductor relative to the clamp in accordance with the forces tending to move the conductor. k

11'. A transmission-line device comprising a supporting portlon,

{portions supported thereby in relatively movable relation thereto and to each other, a resilient portion and a singlemeans co-opcrating with sand clamping portions for normally holding said resilient portion in stressed condition to clamp said clamping portions relative to the conductor and co-operating with said supporting pdrtion for actuation thereby in response to movement of the conductor, said resilient portion being between the conductor position and said sup porting portion. 12. In combination with cable-suspension conductor-clamping means pivoted at its upper end for swinging movement, a cable support connected to the lower end thereof, said support including relatively movable cable-clamping portions and an elongated spring portion to be flexed laterally with respect to its length and to impose its force upon one of said clamping portions to hold the cable against movement relative to said means under normal condiions, and means for releasing said spring to release said clamping portions relative to each other the latter when said means swings from its normal position by excessive tensional strain on the cable at one side thereof, said spring portion being between the conductor position and said support,

18. In combination with cable-suspension means pivoted at its upper end for swinging movement, a cable support connected to the lower end thereof, said support including relatively movable cable-clamping portions and single spring portion only to hold the cable against movement relative to said clamping portions under normal conditions, and means for releasing said spring to release said clamping portions when said means swings from its normal position beyond a predetermined extent, said spring portion being between the support.

14. In combination with cable-suspension means pivoted at its upper end for swinging movement, a cable support connected'to the lower end thereof,said support including conductor position and said relatively movable cable-clamping portions and a spring adapted to flex along a line extending laterally A to, and substantially through, the longitudinal axis of the cable to exert force symmetrically relative to the cable to hold the same against movement relative to said means under normal conditions, and means for releasing said spring to release said clamping portion when said means swings from normal position beyond a pre determined extent, said spring being between the conductor position and said support.

W. WARREN ODRUFF, 3 D.

'RALPH'L. JENNER. I i

and to the conductor for releasing I 

